NASA has named David Salvagnini its new chief artificial intelligence (AI) officer. David Salvaginini used to be NASA’s chief data officer. His new role is an expansion of his current position. 

NASA uses various AI tools to benefit humanity by supporting mission and research projects across the agency, analyzing data to reveal trends and patterns, and developing systems capable of autonomously supporting spacecraft and aircraft. 

According to Bill Nelson, NASA Administrator, AI has been safely used at NASA for decades, and as this technology expands, it can accelerate the pace of discovery. In his opinion, it is important that NASA remain at the forefront of advancement and responsible use. In this new role, David will lead NASA’s efforts to guide the agency’s responsible use of AI in the cosmos and on Earth to benefit all humanity.

NASA remarks that this appointment is made in accordance with President Biden’s Executive Order on the Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Development and Use of Artificial Intelligence. The newly appointed officer will be responsible for aligning the strategic vision and planning for AI usage across NASA. He will serve as a champion for AI innovation, supporting the development of risk management for tools, platforms, and training. 

The Chief AI Officer will continue NASA’s collaboration with other government agencies, academic institutions, industry partners, and other experts to ensure the agency is on the cutting edge of AI technology.

NASA continues developing recommendations on leveraging emerging AI technology to best serve our goals and missions, from sifting through Earth science images to identify areas of interest to search for data on planets outside our solar system from NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope, scheduling communications from the Perseverance Mars rover through the Deep Space Network, and more.

Source: NASA